The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-12-17

us.
1--WE have secured everywhere'a social
prestige not inferior to that of any other
| denomination. At the outset of our
mission we were assailed in all direc-
tiOns by social ostracism. 1t was keen
and determined. We now enjoy most
courteous treatment from all the other
churches.
eve have forced the different sects to
acknowledge that the average character
of Universalists is as high in moral and
spiritual tone as that Ofany other church.
Time was when it was asserted that our
societies were made up of the vile and
the profane.
I'VE have so lowered sectarian walls
that the orthodox reach over aud clasp
our hands. They invite us to blend
with them in various public relig
ious services. Pulpit exchanges between
their clergymen and ours are not now
infrequent. A Methodist minister not
long ago requested me to assist him in
his revival work. The Y. NJ. G. A. will
admit our people to membership in their
excellent organization, though they are
not yet willing to allow us to vote. They
take our money, but refuse US the fran
chise. This injustice will soon vanish.
''There was period when the laws in
some Of the States would not permit
Universalists to testify in their courts.
That has all been remodeled. While the
contributions of the Methodist church
for promoting its various interests last
year averaged $8.04 per member, those
of the Universalist church averaged S25
per member.
"We have founded a commendable
number of institutions of education
which are affluently endowed. We have
three theological schools, every year
graduating thoroughly cultured young
mep and women for our ministry. We
have more successful women in our pas
torate than any other denomination.
"We have wealthy and very flourish
ing publishing house. We have $12,-
100000 in church property.
"We have started a good number of
successful home missions, and not far
in the future, foreign climes, will ex-
perience the influence of our more ra-
tional policy. We shall accept what
there is of truth and beauty in their
systems and supplement a reasonable
Interpretation of the religion of the
Christ.
1--WE have made it necessary for the
orthodox to review and reconstruct the
heather problem. More than fifty years
ago we indicated to them the cruelty
and the absurdity of the hypothesis
that nations, which never had a chance
to learn the way of salvation, should be
endlessly damned for not walking in
that way. This subject is now at the
front and must be met with an honest
and sensible solution. Above all, as
has been seen, we have put the leaven
of Universalist thought widely into the
evangelical congregations, and it is pro.
ducing very satisfactory results.
"We have substituted winning views
of God for hateful ones.
1--WE have displaced the doctrine of
the total deprayity of human nature by
the doctrine of its intrinsic worth.
eve have established the theory of the
remedial design of retribution instead
of that of its revengeful purpose.
eve have brought the evangelicals to
amend their computation as to the num-
ber of souls which shall ultimately be
saved. Once we were assured that tie
number of the certainly redeemed would
be fearfully small. Now it is thought
that the proportion of the finally lost
to that of the saved will be as the num-
Der in our prisons is to the whole pop
ulatiOn. Here is a tremendous stride
toward Universalism.
''As the highest incentive to the divine
life, we have offered the love Of truth
and holiness for their own sake, rather
than the hope of heaven or the fear of
hell.
"We have introduced the use of reason
in place of tradition and council de-
crees to solve the problem of truth and
right.
Orthodox churches will now admit
Universalists to full and cordial fellow
ship, knowing that they are Universal
lists and requiring no change in their
belief Once they would excommuni-
cate person who had become a Uni
yersalist. Were they to undertake such
exclusion in these days they would have
but narrow time for anything else"
Mr. Reed has performed a good ser
vice to our church in presenting these
facts for the consideration of the peo-
pie Of Rockford interested in the prog
ress Of Uuiyersalism in this country.
His article is an admirable reply to the
Methodist pastor who desired to figure
out the decay Of our church It cannot
be done in that way as Mr.. Reed well
shows. He closes the article in these
words: "ShOuld disintegration take the
Universal st denomination putirplv Ouf